1950's Birth Of Rock N Roll Song Packs (Covers are okay with me!)

[UkuleleSHIMA]

For a game that organizes its content by decades, it would be remiss to not release songs from the 1950s when arguably the birth of Rock n Roll happened! I would love to see this content released as DLC song packs or featured in Rock Band II. Since the master tracks are probably lost or not workable since it was before they layed down separate instrument track, I would be totally fine with covers of these songs. Heck, they've already been covered a million times already.

In addition, songs from this era tend to be more 'family friendly' to those with small kids or grandparents who want to play along. Even the typical adult who's not into ROCK will have heard most of these songs. Personally, I find it disturbing to see 5 year olds rocking out to Metallica or the Beastie Boys, but that's me (a teacher/parent).

1950s Birth of Rock n Roll Pack 1
--Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and his Comets
--Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
--Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry

1950s Birth of Rock n Roll Pack 2
--Shake Rattle and Roll - Bill Haley/Elvis Presley
--Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
--Ready Teddy - Buddy Holly

1950s Birth of Rock n Roll Pack 3
--La Bamba - Richie Valens
--Rip it Up - Little Richard/Elvis Presley
--I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

If Harmonix just offered Pack 1 I'd be happy!:D

[GrayInvisible]

I like the idea. Lots of great music from that era. Seeing La Bamba made me look it up, and I remember listening to that song when I was younger. Very catchy. I'd love to play Johnny B Goode of course. I'm not a huge fan of Elvis, but I definitely won't deny his place in a pack like these.

That family friendly for young kids bit kinda irked me though. I agree about those songs being very well known though. If there are no curse words I see no issue with a child listening to any track in this game, except for Fall Out Boy, or Flyleaf (No responsible parent would corrupt a child's musical taste like that). When I was about 3-10 I barely listened to lyrics (Except maybe choruses, and easily understandable things).

[BevoTheWarrior]

Great call! I'd love to play some Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard... This is something that really should happen.

[TheBEAST205]

Great call! I'd love to play some Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard... This is something that really should happen.

Agreed....

[UkuleleSHIMA]

I like the idea. Lots of great music from that era. Seeing La Bamba made me look it up, and I remember listening to that song when I was younger. Very catchy. I'd love to play Johnny B Goode of course. I'm not a huge fan of Elvis, but I definitely won't deny his place in a pack like these.

That family friendly for young kids bit kinda irked me though. I agree about those songs being very well known though. If there are no curse words I see no issue with a child listening to any track in this game, except for Fall Out Boy, or Flyleaf (No responsible parent would corrupt a child's musical taste like that). When I was about 3-10 I barely listened to lyrics (Except maybe choruses, and easily understandable things).

Thanks Gray! Yeah, about the kids thing, being a 1st grade teacher I hear the "I did it, and there's nothing wrong with me" angle a lot with parents, and they are right for them, (most of the time...). However, not all kids are alike as you know and there are some children who have "emotional" issues where this type of music can play a part in their edginess and/or attitude. And you won't usually see the results of that until they are older (like when they hit puberty heh-heh). I agree, its not so much the lyrics (who can understand them half the time anyway), its the attitude and, I don't know how to put it, but I hope you understand that I'm trying to not make a blanket statement here. I'm just saying its developmentally more appropriate to have 5 year olds listen to "Wheels on the Bus" or the Lion King soundtrack while they enjoy that kind of music as opposed to Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast. They'll have plenty of time to "rebel" musically when they hit their teenage years. Let them be kids while they can. Again, my professional opinion only. ;)

[PacoL250]

For a game that organizes its content by decades, it would be remiss to not release songs from the 1950s when arguably the birth of Rock n Roll happened! I would love to see this content released as DLC song packs or featured in Rock Band II. Since the master tracks are probably lost or not workable since it was before they layed down separate instrument track, I would be totally fine with covers of these songs. Heck, they've already been covered a million times already.

In addition, songs from this era tend to be more 'family friendly' to those with small kids or grandparents who want to play along. Even the typical adult who's not into ROCK will have heard most of these songs. Personally, I find it disturbing to see 5 year olds rocking out to Metallica or the Beastie Boys, but that's me (a teacher/parent).


All the songs you listed would be a blast to play :D

I'm sure that even though the master recordings may be lost, they all have been put onto CD and or tape at this point...so I'd assume. I don't think it would be all that hard for Harmonix to get especially considering all the backing of EA and MTV.

Coding these songs (or any song for that matter) for RB is a whole other story. :p

As for family friendly, well back in these songs' day, I'm sure parents didn't want their 5 years olds listening to them either. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a majority of the songs on RB are censored to some degree or another; what we have are the versions we'd hear on the radio. I'm not saying that your viewpoint/opinion is incorrect (heck, I think I'd most certainly limit my child's playing habits, etc. if I was a parent), but I'm just throwing something out there to think about. No doubt the songs you listed would be welcomed by parents, however.

Plus, I'd say it never hurts to educate kids about music history. :)

[polishdog90]

I would pay for that.

[GrayInvisible]

Thanks Gray! Yeah, about the kids thing, being a 1st grade teacher I hear the "I did it, and there's nothing wrong with me" angle a lot with parents, and they are right for them, (most of the time...). However, not all kids are alike as you know and there are some children who have "emotional" issues where this type of music can play a part in their edginess and/or attitude. And you won't usually see the results of that until they are older (like when they hit puberty heh-heh). I agree, its not so much the lyrics (who can understand them half the time anyway), its the attitude and, I don't know how to put it, but I hope you understand that I'm trying to not make a blanket statement here. I'm just saying its developmentally more appropriate to have 5 year olds listen to "Wheels on the Bus" or the Lion King soundtrack while they enjoy that kind of music as opposed to Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast. They'll have plenty of time to "rebel" musically when they hit their teenage years. Let them be kids while they can. Again, my professional opinion only. ;)

I guess I see what you mean. I personally was raised on British Invasion stuff which wasn't hardcore or heavy at all but it was musically great and meaningful. Another thing is that this stuff is more complex than a children's song, so that could be considered good, but for some kids hearing metal at a young age might be bad. I don't listen to much metal now, and a lot of my taste can be traced back to what I listened to when I was younger.

And keep them away Fall Out Boy. Who knows what kind of crap that will be popular in the future. Better to raise them on the real music, and let them discover modern music that doesn't suck in the mid 2010s (And it will be even harder considering where the music industry is going) when they properly develop their musical taste.

[Rokkstar]

Covers are awfully expensive for something that isn't even by the original artist. I myself am NOT okay with Covers, because they aren't even really real.

Unless it's by the real artist it should be only 99 cents! If it's by the actually artist then $1.99! I mean you can go to iTunes and get the real song for half the price.

I know, I know that it's a game and it should cost but 99c for a fake is good too.

ON TOPIC: Please post a link to some of the songs. Plus they range to the 60s right now if I'm not mistaken with just one song. I think that posting 3 50s would be odd. They should get a few more 60s - 00s right now before getting some 50s in there.

[PacoL250]

Covers are awfully expensive for something that isn't even by the original artist. I myself am NOT okay with Covers, because they aren't even really real.

Unless it's by the real artist it should be only 99 cents! If it's by the actually artist then $1.99! I mean you can go to iTunes and get the real song for half the price.

I know, I know that it's a game and it should cost but 99c for a fake is good too.

ON TOPIC: Please post a link to some of the songs. Plus they range to the 60s right now if I'm not mistaken with just one song. I think that posting 3 50s would be odd. They should get a few more 60s - 00s right now before getting some 50s in there.

I'm not a big fan of covers either, but it's something we will end up seeing more often than not; however, I'd wager that we will see more master/original tracks than covers. At least, so I hope :)

I'm all for covers costing $0.99 but I don't think we will see that as often as we'd like. The whole iTunes pricing scheme doesn't work either and that's mainly because of what is involved in getting a song up on iTunes versus getting a song ready for RB.

I think what will happen is that we will see pricing of songs based upon perceived popularity from these forums and mostly based upon how well the artist/band prospered from a specific song(s) and/or album(s). Heck I had heard a few rumblings of some individual songs being worth around $2.99! :eek:

Heck, even if it was a Rage Against the Machine song, I wouldn't download it (and if you knew me personally, that's saying a lot).

Anyways, back on topic (:p), I think we could see songs from the 50s if we get more songs from the 60s into the game first as you said. I'm thinking Harmonix/EA/MTV would like to have a broad and relatively even amount of songs from each time period. At least, so I'd think.

Regardless, it would be nice to see these songs offered someday. :)

[cmb7869]

That does sound fun! I really would like Chantilly Lace by Jerry Lee or the Big Bopper.

[Charron]

If we get Johnny B. Goode, can we have the Back To The Future version with the crazy solo? ;)

[UkuleleSHIMA]

I guess I see what you mean. I personally was raised on British Invasion stuff which wasn't hardcore or heavy at all but it was musically great and meaningful. Another thing is that this stuff is more complex than a children's song, so that could be considered good, but for some kids hearing metal at a young age might be bad. I don't listen to much metal now, and a lot of my taste can be traced back to what I listened to when I was younger.

And keep them away Fall Out Boy. Who knows what kind of crap that will be popular in the future. Better to raise them on the real music, and let them discover modern music that doesn't suck in the mid 2010s (And it will be even harder considering where the music industry is going) when they properly develop their musical taste.

Right on. Yeah I loaded my wifes ipod that she plays in the car with playlists of Oldies, Showtunes, Swing era, Sinatra, Country, Disney tunes and other kids songs for her to listen with our 2-year old girl. Personally, I love to hear her singing those while she likes them. :) (No Fall Out Boy, I promise!);)

[PacoL250]

Right on. Yeah I loaded my wifes ipod that she plays in the car with playlists of Oldies, Showtunes, Swing era, Sinatra, Country, Disney tunes and other kids songs for her to listen with our 2-year old girl. Personally, I love to hear her singing those while she likes them. :) (No Fall Out Boy, I promise!);)

If there was Fall Out Boy I think we may need to have a word with you ;) :p

[face777]

Some tracks like this would be a kewl addition.

More Elvis would probs sell extremely well: Jailhouse Rock, Suspicious Minds, Viva Las Vegas, All Shook Up, anything like that.

Hell, some modern rockabilly would be amazing as well - check out Dan Sartain...

-F777

[WingsOfSteel]

I take issue with your Johnny Cash selection. I think Walk the Line isn't really that great for the instruments and something with a more rocking tempo like Ring of Fire or his cover of Ghost Riders in the Sky would fit the game better.

Also, Rip it Up is an awesome Elvis choice, but I think Viva Las Vegas should be in a pack too.